Humanity in Action Poland

a three year overview 2006-2008

On behalf of the governing bodies of Humanity in Action Poland, a recently estab- lished foundation, I would like to present the achievements of Humanity in Action in Poland in the past three years.

The fellows' reports, action projects, and activities of senior fellows network are the proof that there is a unique potential in and a strong need for human and minority rights educational and leadership initiatives in Poland. Under Communism, because of the political censorship, we could not freely debate and rethink different aspects of our past and act upon it, as did the nations in the West after 1945. Now we can do it, free and taking full responsibility for our own past and future.

The presence of HIA in Poland gives a unique opportunity of bridging the East with the West. The experience of Poles, always rebellious and finally escaping from the political freezer of Soviet communism for more than 40 years is worth trans- ferring to the democracies in the making beyond Polish Eastern borders. Our partners in those countries openly expect us to be with them and get involve in theirs debates and changes.

As a country in transition, Poland, with its multilayered historical and cultural heritage, brings to the HIA community the often-painful experience of a society from this side of the Iron Curtain, with all its achievements and weaknesses.

The challenge ahead is to engage future young leaders from the West and the East in taking common actions to improve the situation in human and minority rights wherever they are violated.

Finally, my special thanks goes to Dr Judith Goldstein and Cornelia Schmalz- Jacobsen who contributed immensely to the establishment of the HIA Poland.

Furthermore we wanted to express our gratitude to our main sponsor the Stiftung "Erinnerung, Verantwortung und Zukunft" (Foundation "Remembrance, Responsibility and Future") for their ongo- HIA is an international charity- ing generous support. based non-profit consortium We are also grateful to the Robert Bosch founded in 1997 which aim is to Stiftung (Robert Bosch Foundation)for guide student leaders in the their sponsorship in the initial year. study and work of human rights with a focus on minority issues Moreover, HIA Poland is thankful to all in democratic countries. HIA Board Members, Staff, Fellows and HIA operates in Denmark, associates who were very helpful through- France, Germany, Poland The out these past few years. Netherlands, and the United States. Eugeniusz Smolar, For more information go to: Chairman of Humanity in Action Poland www.humanityinaction.org Second Decade Initiative

Dr Judith Goldstein with Polish Fellows during the HIA 10th Anniversary Dinner (above) in Warsaw and among part of HIA community in Denmark (right)

"After ten years of successful programming, HIA has assembled an international network of experts in academia, business, government, journalism, media, law, and civil society. As HIA Senior Fellows, board members, and speakers, they are engaged in the work of preserving democratic values and protecting minority rights in a complex and changing world. The HIA network represents a vital resource for corporate, government, and non-government agencies confronting these pressing issues."

Dr Judith Goldstein, Founder & Executive Director of HIA

HIA MISSION

Humanity in Action is an granted in the United States international consortium and Europe. which aims to instill the val- ues of human dignity and Therefore, HIA seeks to moral responsibility for the engage younger generations protection of the rights of in histories of resistance and minorities in a new genera- to inspire them to fulfill their tion of social, cultural, and moral responsibilities to pro- political leaders by: tect those in danger from z Engaging student institutionalize violations of leaders in histories of minority rights. It seeks to resistance to institu- strengthen the commitment tionalized violations of American and European of minority rights in university students to demo- democratic countries; cratic values and foster their knowledge of resistance to intolerance-past and present. z Promoting the growth and development of young professionals dedicated to protecting human digni- The Holocaust, the most devastating example of human ty and the rights of minorities; failure in the denial of rights to minorities, is the his- torical starting point for HIA. But HIA moves beyond z Building a multi-national, intergenerational net- the pathology of evil to explore the little studied norms work of present and emerging leaders in diverse of decency and human triumphs. Examples of moral rec- professional fields who share these commitments. titude and courage are central to all HIA inquiries. Concentrating on historic and contemporary examples HIA believes that an important test of a genuine democ- of protection of minorities, HIA seeks to identify the racy is how it treats its racial, ethnic, and religious conditions under which people act according to the minorities, and that the commitment to democratic val- highest principles, and to encourage university students ues and the protection of minorities cannot be taken for to become morally responsive citizens.

– 2 – HIA Poland Board of Directors

Each year, the HIA mission and objectives take on a new, unique expression, meaning and dynamic. Among the main factors that make it possible is the leadership, mentorship and support of our Boards. It is thanks to our Board Members that HIA can effectively realize one of its objectives: building a multi-national, intergenerational network of present and emerging leaders in diverse professional fields who share these commitments.

HIA is proud to introduce HIA Poland Board of Directors

Mr. Eugeniusz Smolar Mr. Janusz Reiter Chairman of HIA Poland President of the HIA Poland Managing Board Programming Board

President of the Center for International Relations; Former Ambassador of Poland to Germany and the US; Former Director of the BBC World Service, Polish Former President of the Center for International Section; co-founder of Aneks publishing house; former Relations; Board Member of Presspublica. member of the Management Board of Polish Radio.

Members of the Programming Board Mr. Zbigniew Bujak One of the key leaders of the Solidarity Movement; Former MP Mr. Micha³ Kowalczewski, PhD Partner Mercurius Financial Advisors Mr. Jan Król Former Deputy Speaker of the Parliament; Advisor to KPMG Mr. Waldemar Markiewicz President of the Management Board DB Securities S.A. Mr. Tadeusz Mazowiecki Former Polish Prime Minister Mr. Roland Sprung President of SPC House of Media Professor Dariusz Stola Vice-Rector for International Cooperation at Collegium Civitas; Research Fellow at Institute for Political Science of the Polish Academy of Sciences Mr. Stefan Twardak Former Country Manager General Electric Poland; Former Executive President BPH Bank S.A. Mr. Adam Uszpolewicz President of the Board of Commercial Union Poland Mr. Andrzej Wielowieyski MEP for Poland; Former Vice-Marshall of the Senate Mr. Henryk Wujec One of the key leaders of the Solidarity Movement; Participant of the 1989 „Round Table” agreement; Former MP; Currently active at the Foundation for Poland / Program for Regional Development

– 3 – Never back down from the challenge!

Challenging, draining, daring, important, surpris- da as much as other European countries and as a ing inspiring … these are some of the most common result there are not many reliable sources on Poland in adjectives used by HIA fellows when they have been English available. asked to describe their experience during the HIA programs. For HIA Poland, which throughout the Nevertheless, throughout the programs, the Fellows years 2006-2008 grew from an independent subpro- were exposed to divergent historical narratives and ject of HIA Germany to a fully fledged foundation challenged to analyze their impact on the current situa- those adjectives could do just as well. It truly was a tion. They were learning from the past in order to challenging, draining, daring, important, surprising change the future. The Fellows got the chance to study and inspiring time! the Holocaust and the Second World War, the multicul- tural experiences of the Second Republic (Polish State in The Polish educational program was designed as a plat- the years 1918-1939), forced homogeneity of the Polish form for bridging all sorts People's Republic (1945- of gaps-geographical, 1989) and the challenges mental, political, ideolog- of the country and socie- ical-at the very crossroads ty in transition to a of East and West. In prac- viable democracy after tice this means not only 1989. Each year the turn- embracing a range of sub- ing points in the pro- jects connected with gram were the visits human and minority either to Auschwitz or rights, but also providing Treblinka and meetings an opportunity for dia- with survivors. Those logue and discourse for experiences were, in a outstanding students word draining; but who are promising young proved that no matter leaders and who have a how hard it may seem genuine interest in human and minority rights and apprehension and overtly-polite silence are not solu- proved to have some engagement in this field. tions.

Each year the Polish team was comprised of 21 out- However, the fellows never backed down from the chal- standing students hailing from Poland, US, Germany, lenge to find points of agreement and contention con- Ukraine (and in the years 2006-07 also from Belarus). cerning their conceptions of culture, history, human rights, politics, policy, the rule of law and religion. Their The diversity was even greater, given that partici- sense of unity was build upon the foundation of honest pants' ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds var- discussions, ongoing debates - and sometimes painful ied substantially. Keeping this in mind, it should not confrontations - about challenging human rights and come as a surprise that the biggest challenge during minority issues and preconceived notion about the past every program was to first find the common ground and the present. and that required reaching a mutual understanding. However, it is not an easy thing to achieve as to com- The Fellows' commitment, engagement, and intellectual prehend contemporary Poland one must have some input are the main reasons for the Polish Programs' suc- knowledge of its complicated history and diverging cess. It provides hope that they will remain active in the historical narratives. Moreover, there is a very diversi- field of human and minority fied demand for historical knowledge among the par- beyond the HIA programs or other ticipants: Polish fellows experience the same symp- HIA driven initiatives. toms as most of "host" fellows do, so they are either "fed up" with nationally oriented history or are so For the future I would like to wish immersed in it that discussion it "objectively" requires HIA Poland still having the same from them a lot of effort, self-awareness and openness attitude as before: never back needed for challenging the foundations of ones identi- down from the challenge! ty. At the same time the visiting fellows come mostly to the program with limited knowledge and a couple of stereotypes about Poland which is not surprising as Monika Mazur-Rafa³ Poland is not making to the international news agen- Director of Humanity in Action Poland

– 4 – HIA Poland Results in a nutshell

Panel discussion at the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights with Halina Bortnowska-D¹browska, Marek Antoni Nowicki and Dr Adam Bodnar

zover 60 outstanding students who are promising young activists hailing from Poland, Germany, USA, Ukraine, Belarus successfully took part in the three editions of the core program in Warsaw and remain connected to the HIA network; zca. 20 research papers in English inspired by the HIA programs were prepared as a result of a collaborative efforts of HIA fellows. The topics covered the most burning human and minority rights issues in the Polish con- text. Many past HIA fellows have used these reports as the basis of published articles, masters' theses, disser- tations, and research fellowships; z7 HIA Poland alumni took part in the prestigious internships such as: Lantos/Humanity in Action Capitol Hill Fellowship Program in US Congress, The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), The Pat Cox/HIA Fellowship Program in the European Parliament, The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum; zcirca 70 human and minority rights activists, NGOs' representatives, academics, politicians, minority represen- tatives, journalists, artists and public officers have cooperated with HIA Poland; zHIA Poland managed to develop links to organizations and institutions dealing with human and minority rights and education of the future responsible citizens, such as: Amnesty International, Center for International Relations, Collegium Civitas, Commissioner for Civil Rights Protection, Forum for Dialogue Among Nations, Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, Institute of European Studies, Jagiellonian University, International Organization for Migration/Central European Forum for Migration Research, Organization for Security and Cooperation, Memorial and Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau, Migrants' Center, Ministry of Interior and Administration, Polish Humanitarian Organization, The Feminist Foundation eFKa, Treblinka Memorial and Museum, Women Rights' Center; zHIA Poland cooperated with HIA The Netherlands on the creation and implementation of the first cross-gen- erational program for HIA Senior Fellows on "The Relevance of the Holocaust" in Cracow and Auschwitz; z9 outstanding Polish students were selected and recruited by HIA Poland to take part in the HIA Inc. programs in the NYC and internships in San Francisco; zPolish Alumni of HIA programs created in 2006 a Polish Senior Fellows' Network (SFN) which meets in Warsaw regularly once a month under the lead of Dariusz Dybka and Ma³gorzata Dziewanowska (since 2008). Polish HIA SFN is currently conceptualizing its future endeavors. Meeting & discussion with Andrzej Wajda

– 5 – HIA Poland debut in 2006

Marta Ga³ecki (Intern at the first Polish Program 2006 & a 2004 HIA Senior Fellow) shares her impres- sions of the Polish Program.

At first it seemed like there was nothing unusual about most importantly-beyond the label of any particular the topics we discussed in the 2006 Polish program. nationality-the question we ended up trying to answer Turn on the radio or television in Poland, and you will as students from these diverse backgrounds was "where often hear callers or guests talking with hosts about his- does a minority, or more broadly, a human rights per- torical remembrance and minority issues. Labeled as spective fit into all of this?" But it took time for me to Polish issues, these historical and political topics have recognize the potential of that last question in the largely been limited to Polish-Polish discussions. During Polish context. As the intern in the 2006 program with the Communist era, Poles mastered these discussions both a Polish and an American identity, I was divided on through impromptu underground forums, held in places some of the topics we discussed-an ironic dilemma con- like churches or at the family dinner table. sidering I felt that my position in the group should gen- erally be a neutral one. Nevertheless, I thought that the "The truth was that it was our various back- more closely I connected with whatever it means to grounds that allowed us to present fresh views on be Polish, the better I might understand the complexity old topics, and to have very different kinds of dis- of the issues. The truth was that it was our various back- cussions than those that had taken place before in grounds that allowed us to present fresh views on old Poland." topics, and to have very different kinds of discussions than those that had And so I questioned taken place before throughout my intern- in Poland. I had the ship with the program sense that we were where a Polish- in uncharted terri- American perspective tory that summer, like my own fit into establishing a novel present-day discus- forum for discussing sions about Poland? Poland's past and And with an interna- future. tional group of fellows, I wondered what place other American per- spectives had in the Marta Ga³ecki (third discussion? How about from the left on the Belarusian, Ukrainian, photo above) gradu- or German points of ated from Michigan view? But perhaps University.

"We were the first year of the first Eastern European HIA program and the most nationally diverse group in HIA history - trailblazers in every sense of the word.

Some of us dove right into the challenge; others of us waded in more tentatively. While few of us came to the table with similar expectations, I believe we all had the same goal: a meaningful cultural and intellectual exchange focused on issues of human rights."

Jessica Mowles (US Fellow in HIA Polish Program 2006) graduated from Macalester College. Her HIA Action Plan entitled: "Voices from Cape Town" involved in raising awareness in South Africa of the gross human rights abuses occurring in Zimbabwe.

Please visit humanityinaction.org to learn more about HIA Fellows

– 6 – What HIA Poland brings to HIA?

Jeffrey Hochstetler (Intern at the Polish Program 2007 & a 2005 HIA Senior Fellow) discusses the importance of HIA Poland within HIA.

It becomes quite clear after a very little time in Warsaw participants, different as we all were. that this place lives with a heavy remembrance of the I observed that it took very hard work to build goodwill, past, from the "Old Town" that has been completely re- to gain respect for an opposing opinion, and even to lis- built after total destruction at the hands of the Nazis, to ten to another side in the first place. And this is why the "Palace of Culture" which looms over the entire city- Poland is so unique within HIA: center, Stalin's "gift" to Communist-controlled Poland. building a democratic future and understanding a I think what makes the atmosphere so different tumultuous past is not a sure thing here, it is a from my more Western-European HIA experiences work in progress. And we can expect nothing less is precisely how recently Poland has struggled than hard work in the process. politically and economically, and how present is its experiment with democracy, national identity, Inquiring into the past, present, and future of human and liberal tenants. rights in Poland from this dynamic is clearly a difficult task. From my time among the fellows-living in the The discussion is not rote, here, and thus it is difficult. same hostel, attending the same lectures and site visits, During lectures it is not taken for granted among the trying to listen and learn from difficult conversations, various participants-Polish, American, Ukrainian, and of course having plenty of fun navigating the new German, Christian, Jewish, Muslim-that secularism and occasionally disorienting streets and neighbor- secures the most progressive democratization, for hoods of Warsaw-I took to heart a very deep challenge: example, or that underrepresented groups like women to discuss human rights at all, we often need to be will- or homosexuals should be on more equal footing within ing to explore the much broader question of what it Polish society. Likewise, after touring the incredibly might mean to be human, and very different humans, in unsettling death camp the first place. of Auschwitz, it is not assumed that one nar- ration of suffering dur- ing WWII ought to take precedence over anoth- er, or even that we share similar emotions after the tour. Indeed, noth- Jeffrey Hochstetler ing was assumed during (second from the HIA Poland-not a com- right) graduated from mon ideology, not a Wheaton College. common goal, not even Currently working in a a common sense of law firm in New York social trust among all City.

"It is not only that I learned so much about Polish society and politics in the lec- tures, discussions and visits that we had - I also learned so much about myself. It was not rarely that I felt powerless and frustrated about what's going wrong in the Polish society (remark: you can replace 'Polish' with any nation!), but in the end it was exactly this recognition of the wide variety & coherence of prob- lems concerning human rights that makes you want to act." Henrike Korte (German Fellow in HIA Polish Program 2007) graduated from Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster. She was a co-author of the HIA research report on the right-wing nationalism in Poland.

– 7 – In the search of truth(s): HIA Research Reports

During the programs the Fellows meet with recognized leaders of human rights organizations, politicians, diplomats, philan- thropists, journalists, scholars, artists and authors in the con- text of lectures, seminar, site visits, and focus group activities. This phase of the program culminates in a period of research and writing (circa nine days), when international teams of Fellows focus on past and present minority issues in Poland, producing a written report. HIA Publishes these reports on the website. Fellows are also encouraged to submit these reports for publication in other media outlets.

Many past HIA fellows have used reports written as part of their HIA core fellowship program as the basis of published arti- cles, masters' theses, dissertations, and research fellowships.

What is truly unique about the HIA research reports is that Fellows are not afraid to pose challenging questions and investigate controversial issues. And they do so with a great deal of awareness, curiosity and perceptiveness.

2006 Topics 4. The Effectiveness of Social Campaigns in the Polish Context by Gagan Gupta (US), Monika Kozuñ (PL), Lidia 1. Center Against Expulsions – Issue of Human Rights or Semenkova (B) Political Provocation? by Magdalena Kaj (PL), Frank M. 5. Political Clash, or Just Low on Cash? An Examination of the Esser (GER) Bases for Vietnamese Immigration to Poland by Carmine 2. Tolerated Stay': A Tolerable Policy? : On Chechen Grimaldi (US), Aleksandra Lipczak (PL), Kemal Önel (GER) Refugees and 'Tolerated Persons' in Poland by Olivia 6. Hate in the Headlines: Media Reactions to Homophobic Andrzejczak (US), Katerina Barushka (B), Elena Wasylew (PL) Rhetoric in Poland by Lydia Downing (US), Johanna Lieser 3. Contemporary Discourse on Anti-Semitism in Poland by (GER), Agnieszka Meller (PL) Dariusz Dybka (PL), Yulia Gogol (U), Andrew Maki (US) 7. Justice or Revenge? The Human Rights Implications of 4. HIV Positive in Poland: Evolving Activism and Everyday Lustration in Poland by Irina Marchuk (U), Megan Metzger Life by Vasyl Kvartiuk (U), Claire Lauterbach (US), Justyna (US), Magdalena Paj¹k (PL) Szewczyk (PL) 5. Too Cool for School? The Education of the Roma Minority 2008 Topics in Poland by Kimberly Ang (US), Kinga Sielicka (PL), Christine van Kan (GER) 1. A Kosher Shrimp? The New Museum in the Context of 6. Love Your Neighbor, But Not Too Much: Political and Holocaust Tourism in Poland by Aleksandra Jankowska Religious Involvement Within Sex Education in Polish (PL), Simone Müller (GER), Ella Street (US) Public Schools by Susanne Heuck (GER), Jessica Mowles 2. Forever Illegal? The Possibilities and Realities for Illegal (US), Aleksandra Puchta (PL) Immigrants to Transcend their Status in Poland by 7. From 'Imagined' Homogeneity to National Solidarity?: The Agnieszka D¹bek (PL), Asan Egizov (U), Michael Ewart (US) Struggle Over Gay Rights in Poland by Dmytro Chybisov (U), 3. Leaving the Ghetto: Learning to Embrace Physical Joanna Œrednicka (PL), Jesse Van Tol (US) Disabilities in the Polish Labor Market by Christine Holtkamp (GER), Shoshana Iliaich (US), Przemek Pietraszek (PL) 2007 Topics 4. Roadblocks to Jewish Restitution: Poland's Unsettled Property by Maxwell Minckler (US) and Sylwia Mitura (PL) 1. Airing the Dirty Laundry: Exploring the Challenges of 5. Swept Beneath the Mat Once More: Reproductive Rights in Domestic Violence in Poland by Ma³gorzata Dziewanowska Poland from Communism to Democracy by Marta (PL), Viktoriya Khomuk (U), Liat Krawczyk(US) Koz³owska (PL), Julia Podaenko (U), Natalie Sullivan (US) 2. The Quest For Right-Wing Nationalism in Poland: 6. "We're Treating Them As Homeless": Health Care Access Character, Appeal, and Roots by Rachael Dizard (US), for Undocumented Migrants in Poland by Benjamin Larson Henrike Korte (GER), Anna ¯amejæ (PL) (US), Paulina Sypniewska (PL), Zacharias Ziegelhõfer (GER) 3. More than a Beautiful Game: Soccer, Sex Trafficking and Euro 7. Witamy w Polsce: The Dilemma of Language Learning 2012 Poland-Ukraine by Przemys³aw Iwanek (PL), Daria among Poland's Growing Immigrant Community by Monika Kalenyuk (U), Robert Vainshtein (US) Bednarek (PL), Allison Kenney (US), Svietlana Pinchuk (U)

Please visit humanityinaction.org to read full research reports.

– 8 – HIA Fellows take action & move forward!

Having finished HIA Programs the fellows are expected to put their knowledge into practice. They are required to plan and implement within a year after the program an independent or collaborative action project under the auspices of HIA. So far, the Polish program fellows have implemented their action projects in a variety of cul- tures and countries including Belarus, Germany, Kenya, Kosovo, Poland, Ukraine, USA and Zimbabwe. Their action projects dealt with a wide range of topics ranging from political (Chechnya, Middle East, participation of youth in political life) social issues (Roma minority, homelessness) and health issues (sexual education, HIV/AIDS), human and minority rights education and awareness raising, gender equality to multiculturalism in a global perspective. In order to reach a broader public the fellows published essays as well as organized round- table discussions, workshops, exhibitions and conferences. For some of the fellows their HIA action projects and/or research reports turned out to be a getaway to their career opportunities and advancement. Here are some exam- ples:

Olivia Andrzejczak (2006 HIA Polish Program) was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study asylum policy in Poland in 2008. With institutional support from Warsaw University's Center for Migration Research, Olivia was focusing on the topic: "Tolerated Stay: policy, a subsidiary form of protection issued to asylum-seekers from Chechnya. The project was a continuation of research she began during the 2006 Polish Core Program. Moreover, her HIA Action Project was a photo exhibition on Chechnya at the Bernstein Gallery at Princeton. The exhibition belongs to the Honorary Polish Consul for the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria Mr. Adam Borowski, whom Olivia interviewed during the Core Program. As a result of her passion for writing and human rights she was currently accepted into the prestigious Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, and she is also a fellow at the school's Toni Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism.

Magdalena Maria Kaj (2006 HIA Polish Program) when she was 15 she joined Association of Young Democratic Left and started her adventure with politics, which continues till today. Currently she is a member of Board of Polish Socialdemocracy in Poznañ. During the HIA Poland program she became interested in the issues related to the Center Against Expulsions and carried out her research report on this topic which later became a foundation for her MA thesis at the faculty of the political science at Adam Mickiewicz University. In 2008 she initiat- ed and coordinated the Poznan Program (for 16 German, US and Polish HIA Fellows) which was designed as a follow-up activity to HIA "Relevance of the Holocaust Program". During the Poznan Program Magda also conducted a lecture on the political debate about the Center Against Expulsions from the Polish and German perspectives. Currently, she is working in a project conducted by ex-member of Parliament, Sylwia Pusz and supported by European Social Fund, helping young mothers return on labor market and she is also working for the One World Association (Polish Branch of Service Civil International) on peace-building projects.

Vasyl Kvartiuk (2006 HIA Polish Program) having been deeply interested in the patient safety decided to devote his action project to this issue. In 2007, he organized a Roundtable "Patient Safety: New Challenge - New Approach" at the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. Among the partic- ipants were representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Parliamentary Committee on Healthcare, and the World Alliance for Patient Safety, and other leading NGOs. The meeting resulted in the Kyiv Declaration expressing participants' commitment to the development of national action plan. At the moment Vasyl is one of the key young leaders in Ukraine concerning patients' rights and patients safety and works professionally in this field.

– 9 – HIA NETWORK: a unique connection between individual values and collective strengths

Monika Kozun (Intern at the Polish Program 2008 & a 2007 HIA Senior Fellow) characterizes network- ing within HIA.

After working voluntary for over five years as a student; with the institutional support of HIA Centers based in being involved in social projects, making people actively Europe and U.S. the capacity for organizing senior fellow participate in their communities, there comes the cross-border meetings of different type (e.g. confer- moment when you start hearing: "Well, maybe it is high ences, training workshops) increases. time you started doing something 'serious' and find a 'real' job? And if you are not lucky enough to be sur- Yet, the goal of HIA to "build a multinational, intergener- rounded by people who support you and believe in what ational, network of present and emerging leaders in you are doing, your motivation eventually comes to an diverse professional fields who share its commitments" end. Fortunately, I was one of those lucky ones to find would not be possible if not the supportive and dedicated myself among people who not only think that fighting to the cause stakeholders, namely the board members, for your ideals makes sense but also prove that you can staff members, advisors, partner organizations and shift your actions on a professional level. speakers. Only mutual cooperation allows of developing young leaders and The backbone of HIA involving them in the network are the fellows- study and promotion having different origins, of human rights. Me coming from different myself recognized the fellowship programs, importance of HIA net- constituting different work taking advantage generations and acting of established connec- in a variety of fields tions to enhance my (e.g. politics, law, sci- action project. ence, medicine, journal- ism). Although we Last but not least, it is choose different life a common notion that paths, shared values and networks function vision make us stay con- only partially on a nected and merge across rational level- part of boundaries to act together for a common purpose. the communication is usually based on personal rela- To work more efficiently, we decided to create tionships. And that is where the strength of HIA network Senior Fellow Association/Networks. lays. Thanks to the inimitable HIA summer core pro- grams, there exist strong emotional ties among all the National Associations of Senior Fellows are membership members of HIA network. In result, a unique "communi- organizations which maintain the ties between the sen- ty" of young people sharing common values and fully ior fellows in a program country and - through co-oper- committed to advancing human rights is gradually ation with the senior fellow groups in other countries - emerging. with members of the HIA community worldwide. They aim at providing a forum for communication and Monika Kozuñ holds M.A. in exchange of ideas, supporting the conceptualization and International Relations and continues realization of the HIA fellowship programs as well as her education in the area of Global ensuring assistance and connections for the successful Development within postgraduate development of senior fellows' activities and careers. studies at University of Warsaw. Functioning of SFA solely depends on fellows' will, ener- Honorary member and ex-president of gy and perseverance. European Students' Forum AEGEE Gdansk; trainer on global education in Another level for fellows' interaction is provided by the Polish Humanitarian Organization. In Senior Fellows Reunions. These gatherings are organ- the nearest future plans to expand and ized annually both in the United States and Europe and deepen her knowledge in the area of Human Rights and serve further personal development of the fellows but at International Humanitarian Law within a EU Master the same time create a space for exchange of informa- Program and proceed with a project in one of the countries tion on the advancements of HIA network. Moreover, of Global South.

– 10 – HIA The first decade (1998-2008)

– Over 700 students have completed HIA Core Fellowship Program. HIA has engaged students from Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Germany, Poland, The Netherlands, Ukraine and the US.

– Senior Fellows Networks (SFN) more than 500 Senior Fellows sustain engage- ment with HIA internationally. SFN provide on-going professional development oppor- tunities, organize annual conferences, undertake project in the field of human and minority rights.

– More than 230 Fellows have completed HIA internship programs e.g.: Anne Frank Foundation, the Danish Institute for Human Rights, The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), Interpol, the European Parliament, The United Nations, The United States Congress.

– HIA Fellows have a remarkable record of achievement as young professionals in diverse fields such as in government, non-profit organizations, media and the pri- vate sector and most importantly they remain sensitive to the human and minority issues of today's world.

– 11 – HIA POLAND EXPRESSES GRATITUDE TO ITS MAIN SUPPORTER:

HIA Poland would also like to thank the Robert Bosch Stiftung (Robert Bosch Foundation) for its sponsorship in the initial year. Further, we are also grateful to our partners: Collegium Civitas and the Center for International Relations for their support.

CREDITS:

Edited by Monika Mazur-Rafa³ & Magda Szarota Design by Magda Szarota

Humanity in Action Polska Aleje Jerozolimskie 49/5 00-697 Warszawa

Mailing address: Humanity in Action Poland skryt. poczt. nr 242 00-950 Warszawa

phone/fax: +48 (0) 22 629 48 69 skype: HIAPoland e-mail: [email protected]